Removal of odours from toilets and cleansing of same



B. BALSAY April 8, 1969 REMOVAL OF ODOURS FROM TOILETS AND CLEANSING OFSAME Sheet Filed Feb. 20, 1967 lA/VENTOR. BELA BALSAY BY yak/flaw,

ATTORNEY B. BALSAY- 3,436,767 REMOVAL OF ODOURS FROM TOILETS ANDCLEANSING 0F SAME April 8 1969 Sheet 2 Y of 2 Filed Feb. 20. 1967 ZiiFIGFIG.8

. INVENTOR,

llrlzl'li'illlll llll' $1 F I G9 AQN R LWW w. A. W

United States Patent REMOVAL OF ODOURS FROM TOILETS AND CLEANSING 0FSAME Bela Balsay, 87 Crystal St., Petersham, near Sydney, New SouthWales, Australia Filed Feb. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 617,281 Claims priority,application Australia, Feb. 22, 1966, 1,951/ 66 Int. Cl. E03d 9/04, 9/02US. Cl. 4213 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates tomeans for the removal of unpleasant odours from the toilet bowls oftoilet pedestals and the like, and also the cleansing of such toiletbowls and the disinfecting and deodorizing of the area thereabout.

The invention has been devised to provide means of a reliable, safe andsimple nature whereby toilet odours are removed from a toilet bowlbefore they can become objectionable within a room or other location ofthe related toilet, thereby affording a very desirable service withinhomes as well as other places of use. The invention also provides forthe automatic dispensing of a detergent or the like to the toilet bowlwith the flushing water at each time a flush of the toilet is effected.

The invention can be readily embodied in toilet pedestals or at alocation where the water passes in a flushing operation as hereinafterdescribed.

According to this invention, the means for the removal of unpleasantodours from the toilet bowls of toilet pedestals and the like and thecleansing of such bowls, are characterised by a hollow air removalmember containing a compartment arranged across the back of the top ofthe pedestal or the like and connected by at least one air draw-offpassage or port with the usual water flushing channel of the toilet bowlabove the location where the flow of flushing water is effected and alsoconnected to a ventilating housing integrally formed in or on saidpedestal and containing an air-draw-off or suction device; and adispenser for automatically dispensing detergent or the like foreffecting the cleansing, disinfecting and deodorising of said toiletbowl built into or arranged with said toilet pedestal in such a mannerthat the flushing water in its flow path to the toilet bowl receives acharge of detergent or the like so that it is mixed with and absorbedinto the said flushing water and delivered therewith to the said toiletbowl at each flushing operation.

The ventilating housing is positioned at a convenient location in thetoilet pedestal such as at the back thereof above the discharge bend orthe like of a toilet pedestal.

The air suction device contained within the ventilation housing may beof any suitable form, as for example an electric motor driven impelloror fan type of device, and the operation thereof may be manuallyeffected or done automatically by any means devised for the purpose.

The detergent dispenser in some applications of the invention isembodied in the toilet pedestal and connected ice by one or more portsor the like leading to the toilet bowl as under the usual int-urneddepending lip or hanging provided at the top of the said bowl, and soarranged that some of the water at a flushing operation is directedthrough the dispenser before passing to the toilet bowl, and in suchpassage absorbing a suitable charge of the detergent which isdistributed over the area of said toilet bowl.

In another application, the dispenser is embodied in the water flushsupply line and connected therewith by port or like means so that aportion of the flushing water passes through said dispenser and absorbsa suitable amount of the detergent for the flushing operation.

In a still further application, the dispenser is embodied in a flushingcistern or the like, or in the water outlet line therefrom so that as a'water flush takes place a supply of detergent is absorbed in theflushing water.

However, it is to be understood that the detergent dispenser is notlimited to any precise location when built in or on a toilet assembly orsuite and can be embodied at any suitable position so that the detergentis in contact with the flushing water only during a flushing operation.

In this complete specification, the use of the term detergent isintended to include any suitable cleansing agent or preparation whetheror not it embodies a distinfecting and/or deodorising medium. Suchdetergent may be of powdered, granulated, crystal, block, stick or othersuitable form for its purpose, and in some cases may be embodied in aperforated or mesh cage, frame or other container whereby it can begradually absorbed into the flushing water. Gradual absorption insuflicient amount is most economical but the amount supplied is notintended to be limited in any way in present invention.

In order to describe the invention more fully, reference will now bemade to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a rear end elevation of a toilet pedestal assembly in whichthe invention is embodied, and

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of same, while FIGURE 3 is a plan thereof,and

FIGURE 3A a fragmentary plan of the toilet pedestal showing a variedposition for the detergent dispenser.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the pedestal on line4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional plan on line 55 of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary section of the toilet bowl on line 66 ofFIGURE 5 to show the construction of the dispenser more clearly.

FIGURE 7 is a side view of a combined closure plug and detergent blockembodied in a mesh framing or the like as applicable for cisterns asshown in further figures of the drawings later detailed.

FIGURE 8 is a side view of a toilet suite including a modification ofthe application of the detergent dispenser shown in section.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view of part of the lower portion of a cisternwith the detergent dispenser arranged in the flush water outlet.

Referring to FIGURES l to 5 inclusive of the drawings, the toiletpedestal generally indicated by the reference 10 follows the usual formof such an article and includes a footing 11 to seat on a supportingsurface, a discharge or outlet bend 12 and a flat top rim portion 13upon which a seat (not shown) is adapted to be mounted in any suitableknown manner. This top portion 13 has an internal downturned ordepending flange 14 of more or less usual form providing the flushchannel 15 through which a flush takes place in normal manner as from awater inlet 16 connected to a cistern (not shown) in usual manner. Thiswater inlet 16 is connected by two ports 17 with the flush channel 15see FIGURES 1, 4 and 5.

The pedestal 10 has at the back above the discharge bend 12 a circularbuilt-in ventilation housing 19 in which a suction device 20 is fittedand may be of any suitable electrically operated fan form and is adaptedto draw or suck the polluted air from the interior of the toilet bowl ofpedestal 10, through an intake or draw-off pipe 21 connected to anintake port 22 (see FIGURE 1) arranged towards one end of an upstandingintegral air removal member 23 extending across the back of the pedestal10. This air removal member 23 encloses a compartment 24 connecting atits underside with a. draw-off passage 25 (see FIGURE 4) arranged abovethe water inlet 16 and communicating with the flush'channel 15, so thatpolluted air can be drawn-off from the bowl-of the pedestal 10 throughthe draw-oft passage 25, and discharged via compartment 24, pipe 21 andsuction device 20 through a filter 26 (see FIGURES l and 2) of anysuitable form, as for example one of carbon type to purify the airdischarge.

The aforesaid suction device '20 may beactuated manually as by switch orother means and in some cases may be operated automatically in anysuitable manner, as for example, from the toilet seat of an assembly.

Now referring to the detergent dispenser generally indicated byreference 27 (this is shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 3, and 6) contains acompartment 28 and is formed intogral with the pedestal at one side ofthe rear and is of a size to contain a suitable quantity of detergent,and has an orifice 29 (see FIGURE 3) through which the detergent issupplied, and is adapted to receive a removable closure plug of anysuitable form. Said detergent dispenser 27 has flush water ports 30shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, leading thereto from the flush channel so thatsome of the flush water enters the dispenser compartment 28 and makesits exit through lower ports 31 leading out from said compartment 28through the wall of the pedestal bowl and is adapted to carry a chargeof the detergent into said bowl which being absorbed in the flushingwater effects the cleansing of the toilet bowl and may act also todisinfect and deodorise same according to the type of detergent used.

In FIGURE 7 the detergent includes a plug 32 having a detergent block orstick 33 moulded thereto, such block preferably being arranged in aperforated frame or casing which may be of any suitable material, say aplastic, and said block is slowly dissolvable as the flush water passestherebout and can be arranged to last an appreciable time before needingto be replaced.

Referring to FIGURE 3A the detergent dispenser is arranged under the rim13 in the flushing channel 15 and includes an orifice 29 through which adetergent plug 32-33 may be fitted. This plug depending in the fiushchannel 15 may itself constitute the detergent dispenser, as portion ofthe flush water circulates thereabout during a flushing operation.

In use when a flush takes place the flushing water passes through thewater inlet 16, and through ports 17 into flush channel 15 and so to thetoilet bowl, and the flow of the water creates a pressure effect in itspassage, and as part of the fiushwater passes through the detergentcompartment 28 the pressure effect assures that a suitable charge ofdetergent is dissolved and absorbed in the passing water.

By the operation of the suction device 20, the polluted air from thetoilet bowl is drawn into the channel 15 and passes above the ports 17and thence by draw-oft passage 25 through elevated compartment 24 of airremoval member 23 and by intake pipe 21 is drawn through suction deviceto discharge to the filter 26. The suction device 20 can be shut-oifafter a suitable interval of operation by any known means of control asbefore mentioned. Due to the elevation of the air removal member 23 andthe connection therto of the pipe 21 and the disposition of draw-offpassage there is no possibility of water entering the suction line.

Referring to FIGURE 8, the p l 0 as a fl s supply pipe 35 connecting toa cistern 36 and the detergent dispenser 27 is provided at one sideadjacent the pipe bend and has a filling plug 37 in a top orifice andthe compartment 28 is shown containing a block or stick 33 of detergent.Water inlet and outlet ports 38 are arranged in the upper and lowerparts of the dispenser compartment 28 so that a portionof the flushwater passes therethrough and absorbs a desirable amount of thedetergent which passes into the main flush flowing through the pipe 35to the bowl of the pedestal 10.

' Referring to FIGURE 9 the cistern 36 has a flush valve 39 therein ofusual form seating over an outlet orifice 40, under which is a detergentdispenser 27 formed as a compartment 28 interposed between the cisternoutlet and the flush pipe 35. A detergent plug 32. as before describedwith reference to FIGURE 7 is fitted through an orifice in one side ofthe detergent dispenser 27 and'can be renewed as required.

The detergent in some cases may include a foaming agent or a colouringdye or the like to tint the flushing water and provide an indicationthat the dispenser is working. In this case when the flush water is notforming foam or is untinted an indication is given for the renewal ofthe detergent.

It is to be understood that while several methods of embodying adetergent dispenser have been described and illustrated, the inventionis not limited to the precise applications shown as such dispenser maybe arranged in other ways tovperform the required function, all suchways coming withinthe scope of present invention, that is to say thedetergent is in contact with the flushing water only during a flushingoperation, and such dispenser is formed as an integral part of thetoilet bowl of a pedestal, flush pipe or cistern and the position ofsaid dispenser is always in the path of the flushing water.

I claim:

1. Means for the removal of unpleasant odours from the toilet bowls oftoilet pedestals and the like and the cleaning of such bowls, comprisinga hollow air removal member containing a compartment arranged across theback of the top of the pedestal, means for connecting said compartmentby at least one air draw-off passage to the usual water flushing channelof the toilet bowl above the location where the flow of flushing Watersis effected, and means for also connecting said compartment to aventilating housing integrally formed on said pedestal and containing asuction device; and a dispenser for automatically dispensing materialfor effecting the cleansing, disinfecting and deodorizing of said toiletbowl operatively arranged with respect to said toilet pedestal, meansfor conducting the flushing water in its flow path to the toilet bowl toreceive a charge of said material which is mixed with and absorbed intothe said flushing water and delivered therewith to the said toilet bowlat each flushing operation.

2. Means according to claim 1, wherein the air suction device consistsof an electrically operated fan arranged in the integral housing of saidpedestal.

3. Means according to claim 1, wherein the air removal member is formedintegrally with the toilet pedestal and extends up from the back thereofabove the level of the top of said pedestal.

4. Means according to any one of claims 1, 2, or 3 wherein the airremoval member is of oblong form and the compartment thereof isconnected at the lower portion with the air draw-off passagecommunicating with the water flushing channel of the toilet pedestal atthe back thereof above the water entry ports conveying the flushingwater to the bowl of said toilet pedestal, a port formed in the topportion of said member and a take-off suction pipe connecting said portto the suction device in the housing in said pedestal.

5. Means according to claim 2, wherein the air suction is arranged todischarge to a filter fitted to the housing of the air suction device.

6. Means according to claim 1, wherein the material dispenser isembodied on the toilet pedestal integral therewith and connected by partmeans leading to the toilet bowl of the pedestal and so arranged that aportion of the flushing water at a flushing operation is directedthrough the dispenser before passing to the toilet bowl and in suchpassage absorbing a suitable charge of material for distribution aboutthe toilet bowl.

7. Means according to claim 6, wherein the dispenser is formedintegrally with said toilet pedestal as a compartment at one sidethereof near the top of the back thereof, and said port means providinga port leading into said dispenser from the part of said pedestal wherethe flushing water is delivered to the toilet bowl, and another portleading from said compartment at a lower level back to the toilet bowlto deliver the material charged water thereto.

8. Material dispenser means according to claim 7 wherein the ports toand from the dispenser compartment are positioned adjacent the usualflush Water channel formed about the interior of the rim of the toiletpedestal.

9. Means according to claim 6 wherein the dispenser is positioned in thepath of the flushing water so that such flushing is contacted therewithonly during the actual flushing operation.

10. Means according to claim 6 wherein said material is formed as arenewable element for insertion into the path of flushing water of atoilet so that said material is slowly dissolved and absorbed into thesaid water stream.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,178,852 4/1916 Grant 4-2321,211,137 1/1917 Grant 4-232 X 1,592,101 7/1926 Grant 4-232 1,894,8461/1933 Bennett 4-213 1,931,052 10/1933 Baither 4-213 2,126,131 8/1938Or'ebaugh 4-213 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,053,424 3/1959 Germany.

14,281 9/1895 Great Britain.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

H. J. GROSS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 4-232

